CHOCTAW, Miss. -- Agricultural professionals and educators can learn how to expand their marketing and sales skills at two workshops in September.

The Alliance of Sustainable Farms will present “Expanding Marketing Opportunities: Marketing, Branding and Social Media” at the National Center for Appropriate Technology demonstration farm at the Piney Woods School Sept. 4 and at the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reservation Sept. 5.

These training sessions will provide an overview of selling farm products into the local supply chain through direct and intermediated marketing channels. The workshops will be led by national and state experts.

The workshops are free, but preregistration is required. Onsite check-in begins at 10 a.m. The programs begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

The Piney Woods School is located at 5096 Highway 49 in Piney Woods, about 20 miles south of Jackson. The school’s main entrance is closed. Take Cox 40 Road north of the main entrance. Follow the signs and then take the first right. The classroom is in the red barn.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reservation is located at 116 Blackjack Road in Choctaw. From Highway 16, turn on Blackjack Road at the Geyser Falls Water Park sign. Travel about two miles. At a high-tunnel farm on the right directly across from entrance to Lake Pushmataha, turn right. The building will be on the left.

To register for one of the sessions, email AllianceofSustainableFarms@gmail.com.

Alliance field day/training partners and sponsors include Southern SARE, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Mississippi State University Extension Service, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Alcorn State University Extension Program, University of Mississippi Transactional Law Clinic, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, and Mississippi Department of Education.

Contact: Keith Benson (allianceofsustainablefarms@gmail.com)